1. Was insulin shock therapy a viable clinical treatment?
No, insulin shock therapy was not a viable clinical treatment. This type of treatment is for patients who suffer from schizophrenia. Basically, the treatment is injecting daily doses of insulin into the body and purposely causes comas. Also, in the movie “A Beautiful Mind”, we can see that John Nash who undergoes insulin shock therapy, shows pain when given the shot. To continue this treatment 5 times a week for 10 weeks is almost inhumane.
2. Was John Nash an unusual case, or do you think that many schizophrenic patients can be taught to function in society with without medication?
I don’t think John Nash was an unusual case because anybody can get schizophrenia. However, those people tend to live in society differently. People who acknowledge they have the illness may not trust people as easily. Also, people with schizophrenia may act strangely which includes talking to oneself or erratic behavior. It is difficult for schizophrenics to separate reality from their delusions which makes it impossible for them to function like a normal person in society. The medication does alleviate the delusional effects; however, it does not help with the patient’s motivations and emotional feelings. Therefore, even though medication is given and hallucinations are stopped, a schizophrenic patient cannot function in society.
3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?
Though many psychologists praised the use of the insulin shock therapy, it was proved later that their statistics of successful treatments were biased. In all failed treatments that were given, a common result came out which was hypoglycemia. This condition is when the body has either a deficit of insulin. The patients then suffer from further convulsions. Also, patients who finish their treatment result in obesity. In the most severe cases, patients suffered from brain damage, had prolonged comas or died. Not much good came out of this treatment. This was the first treatment possible for schizophrenics so many people had tried it. Many people succeeded but on the other hand, the dangers were immense.
4. What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?
Back in the 1960s, much was not known to the medical world. In those 50 years, the field of medicine had drastically improved. During the 1960s, patients with schizophrenia had been treated with electric shocks to the brain or with the insulin shock therapy. Nowadays, most patients are treated with antipsychotic drugs which are much safer and more efficient than the treatments back then.
5. What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.
There are many types of schizophrenia but the main types are paranoia, disorganized and catatonia. Paranoia is a thought process with excessive anxiety and fear. So much anxiety and fear builds up that delusions and irrationality occur. Disorganized is a thought process with disorganized behavior and speech. Basically, with disorganized schizophrenia, you cannot talk or think properly. Lastly, patients with catatonia experience loss in motor skills. This means that catatonic patients will hold poses for hours. Some die of exhaustion. Others tend to do the same thing over and over again. Among these three types of schizophrenia, I believe paranoia is the worst because you still have your train of thought but you have to live in fear and anxiety. Also, you are sometimes tricked with delusions. The least worst of the three, I think, would be disorganized because all that is wrong is your speaking and thinking. If you say something wrong, people might take it as a joke or a random comment. Living in society with disorganized schizophrenia would not be as hard as living in society with paranoia. 6. What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?
Nowadays, schizophrenia is being treated with antipsychotic drugs. Those drugs are not 100% helpful but they are the best that medicine has to offer. A perfect cure for schizophrenia is currently under research but finding it seems hopeless.
No, insulin shock therapy was not a viable clinical treatment. This type of treatment is for patients who suffer from schizophrenia. Basically, the treatment is injecting daily doses of insulin into the body and purposely causes comas. Also, in the movie “A Beautiful Mind”, we can see that John Nash who undergoes insulin shock therapy, shows pain when given the shot. To continue this treatment 5 times a week for 10 weeks is almost inhumane.
2. Was John Nash an unusual case, or do you think that many schizophrenic patients can be taught to function in society with without medication?
I don’t think John Nash was an unusual case because anybody can get schizophrenia. However, those people tend to live in society differently. People who acknowledge they have the illness may not trust people as easily. Also, people with schizophrenia may act strangely which includes talking to oneself or erratic behavior. It is difficult for schizophrenics to separate reality from their delusions which makes it impossible for them to function like a normal person in society. The medication does alleviate the delusional effects; however, it does not help with the patient’s motivations and emotional feelings. Therefore, even though medication is given and hallucinations are stopped, a schizophrenic patient cannot function in society.
3. What are the dangers and/or advantages of this type of treatment (re: insulin shock therapy)?
Though many psychologists praised the use of the insulin shock therapy, it was proved later that their statistics of successful treatments were biased. In all failed treatments that were given, a common result came out which was hypoglycemia. This condition is when the body has either a deficit of insulin. The patients then suffer from further convulsions. Also, patients who finish their treatment result in obesity. In the most severe cases, patients suffered from brain damage, had prolonged comas or died. Not much good came out of this treatment. This was the first treatment possible for schizophrenics so many people had tried it. Many people succeeded but on the other hand, the dangers were immense.
4. What is the difference between the treatment of schizophrenia in 1960-1970 and today?
Back in the 1960s, much was not known to the medical world. In those 50 years, the field of medicine had drastically improved. During the 1960s, patients with schizophrenia had been treated with electric shocks to the brain or with the insulin shock therapy. Nowadays, most patients are treated with antipsychotic drugs which are much safer and more efficient than the treatments back then.
5. What are the various types of schizophrenia? Which would you consider the worst case to have? The least worst? Explain why for each.
There are many types of schizophrenia but the main types are paranoia, disorganized and catatonia. Paranoia is a thought process with excessive anxiety and fear. So much anxiety and fear builds up that delusions and irrationality occur. Disorganized is a thought process with disorganized behavior and speech. Basically, with disorganized schizophrenia, you cannot talk or think properly. Lastly, patients with catatonia experience loss in motor skills. This means that catatonic patients will hold poses for hours. Some die of exhaustion. Others tend to do the same thing over and over again. Among these three types of schizophrenia, I believe paranoia is the worst because you still have your train of thought but you have to live in fear and anxiety. Also, you are sometimes tricked with delusions. The least worst of the three, I think, would be disorganized because all that is wrong is your speaking and thinking. If you say something wrong, people might take it as a joke or a random comment. Living in society with disorganized schizophrenia would not be as hard as living in society with paranoia.
6. What treatments are being pioneered today for schizophrenia?
Nowadays, schizophrenia is being treated with antipsychotic drugs. Those drugs are not 100% helpful but they are the best that medicine has to offer. A perfect cure for schizophrenia is currently under research but finding it seems hopeless.